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Nov
10
The Product Preview and Introduction Cycle – Make it Work for Your Business
Filed Under BRAIN Column | Comments Off
The bicycle product preview process for suppliers and retailers used to be so simple: both would attend Interbike, new product would be presented, and orders would be written. Case closed. For a growing number of companies, that process now starts in April at the Sea Otter Classic. Suppliers have press events or leak information to the press and tease consumers with new innovations, and then shift gears into their private events in July and August. While this presents some challenges on both sides of the equation (not to mention tradeshow producers), I think it can also benefit both groups in some important ways. Let me explain.
We’ve heard from many retailers over the past few weeks that the show was more productive this year because they were able to finalize their 2012 product purchasing plans. They told us they began seeing product before Interbike, reviewed that information with their staff back home, considered options, and then finalized orders at the show after seeing the whole marketplace. This model makes sense to me. It allows the smart retailer to digest the various presentations, get support from staff, compare products to the competition, and then present orders at Interbike after a final review. It takes away the pressurized guessing game of pre-season and on-the-spot ordering and puts control back in their hands. In theory, as dealers see product earlier in the sales cycle they are better able to manage their inventories, provide smoother transitions for model year changeovers, increase margins, and further enhance vendor relations with key suppliers.
On the supply side, we received tremendous feedback that their sales teams had written more orders or collected more business than at any show over the past 10 years. Why? I believe that it goes back to the way retailers are thinking and acting. Independent bicycle retailers need to have time to absorb product information, compare it to what else is out there, and prepare their own analysis before submitting the order. Placing orders at private dealer events forces dealers to commit to orders with that supplier in a vacuum, without having seen the entire competitive landscape and any new trends. Allowing this slightly longer, but more-informed process to happen will net suppliers better, more well-thought-out orders that better reflect what will happen at retail. Ultimately, isn’t that what everybody wants? As time goes on and retailers learn about product prior to the show, it will actually reinforce Interbike’s vital role as the right place to finalize product decisions and place more intelligent orders.
The industry has evolved. Now armed with some early product knowledge, dealers are exposed to the full marketplace, competitive offerings and trends in one place: Interbike. They can make educated final decisions, meet with suppliers and place orders on their own terms. Orders and commitments become real at Interbike.
Thanks for supporting this year’s show and we look forward to seeing you at an even bigger event next year!
Sep
14
The Circulus Video 2011
Filed Under Interbike | 2 Comments
One more teaser video about what to expect starting Wednesday at Interbike. It’s a bit of history of the track and where the PDW guys hope to see it in the future. After a brief stop in Las Vegas, of course.
Check it out on the Street Level of the show near the Pub.
The Circulus Video 2011 from PDW on Vimeo.
Sep
6
SRAM’s pART PROJECT at Interbike
Filed Under Attendee News, Events, Exhibitor News, Industry News, Interbike | Comments Off
While there’s no shortage of things to see and do at Interbike this year, this is one that I’m super excited to see: The SRAM pART PROJECT.
SRAM gave 50 artists a box full of 100 components and asked them to create something with them. The finished pieces will be put on display at Interbike and then at a gallery in Chicago in October after which they will be auctioned off to benefit World Bicycle Relief.
Here’s a video short of one of the artists working on his creation:
Look for the pART PROJECT display lining the main aisle on the Street Level of the show next week – make sure to check it out.
Aug
25
Guest editorial by Fred Clements, executive director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association. Interbike is a full partner and funding resource for the NBDA.
From Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, August 15, 2011, page 38.
Numbers don’t lie: Dealers still find Interbike relevant
Despite the many options dealers have today to see new products, the majority plan to make the journey to Las Vegas next month. That’s the takeaway from the latest survey by the National Bicycle Dealers Association. In fact, 85 percent of dealers said they find some or great relevance in Interbike. The online study, conducted by Harvey Research, elicited 1,100 responses.
In its 30th year, Interbike continues to be the biggest single trade event in North America for independent bicycle dealers. When Steve Ready started Interbike in 1982, regional trade shows were common and there were usually at least three annually. After consolidation and some turmoil, Interbike emerged as the one big show that would meet a dealer’s needs at a convenient time and place.
And Interbike remains their first choice today, even with options like consumer events, some with a trade component, niche trade events, and private company events produced by Trek, Specialized, Quality Bicycle Products and others.
Why so much support? Why do 71% of past attendees call Interbike a “must attend” event, and 62% call it “a highlight of my business year”?
According to the survey, dealers come in such large numbers to:
- See new products, equipment, technology and services. Of the retailers surveyed, 92 percent gave this as a reason. Interbike is either effective or very effective in this regard, with 80 percent of the respondents saying so.
- Keep up to date with industry trends (78 percent). Interbike allows all companies to exhibit and gives dealers free reign to explore the marketplace without any one company or agenda running the show.
- To see existing suppliers (79 percent).
- Maintain and build relationships and networking (78 percent).
- Find new suppliers (75 percent). A surprising 50 percent report that they have a major problem with “suppliers whose actions and policies are not in the retailers’ best interest.” Another 35 percent consider this a minor problem, but still a problem. Finding partners whose values align with yours is a central task for any independent business. Interbike “consistently draws the major players,” giving dealers options, according to 75 percent of the respondents.
- Compare competing products (54 percent). While it is important to understand the products in your store, knowing the competition can be a big help in the sales process.
- Access education and training (49 percent). There are more and a greater variety of seminars and tech clinics at Interbike than at any other industry event.
- See or participate in product demos (45 percent). The Outdoor Demo has added a dimension that allows direct comparison of bicycles in the field. This goes well beyond spec and speaks to the experience itself.
- Meet with vendor executives (45 percent). Working with sales staff is fundamental. Engaging upper management allows more strategic issues to be addressed.
- See new products first reviewed online (45 percent). A majority of retailers also said that Interbike helps them “stay ahead of the consumer” (76 percent).
- Make purchases (36 percent). Even with many companies pushing for earlier ordering commitments, only 22 percent of dealer orders are finalized prior to Interbike. More than half of respondents (59 percent) said Interbike is important for confirming their final mix of preseason orders.
The numbers speak for themselves. Interbike is still perceived as a smart investment by a majority of dealers. And attendance figures back this up, with thousands spending their own time and money to attend every year, voting with their feet. As one Northern California dealer recently told me, “I do think of Interbike as our show.”
Still, there is no show without dealers. So, I urge every independent bicycle dealer to make the trip to Las Vegas this year. It’s a good use of time and money.
Aug
12
New Interbike Jersey by Hincapie Sports
Filed Under Interbike, Photos | 8 Comments
“Our jerseys arrived!”
Is there a more anticipated event than the arrival of your new custom designed bike jersey? The agonizing (arguing?) over the final design with your team mates or co-workers is well behind you, and now you’re just waiting for the actual physical manifestations of that illustration that you all agreed to. Well, for us, the payoff for the wait happened this week.
Several boxes from our long time (8 years now?) jersey partners at Hincapie Sports arrived, and were summarily ripped open. We’re super happy with the design that Jennie Brewton, our art director, came up with celebrating the 30th edition of the show this year. I goes without saying the quality of the jersey and the sublimation of the designs are first class. Big thanks go to the team at Hincapie for always doing a great job!
Jul
25
Circulus at Interbike
Filed Under Attendee News, Events, Interbike, Video | 1 Comment
Yes, it’s true. Circulus is coming to Interbike!
As soon as I heard about Circulus last year, I picked up the phone and called Dan at Portland Design Works. It’s not trivial shipping a velodrome 1,000 miles so it took a bit to iron out the logistics. But we knew we’d get it done. As PDW co-owner, Dan Powell, just wrote, “Circulus is going on a little road trip.”
Along with co-sponsors Paved magazine, All-City Cycles and Yakima, we’re super excited to have Circulus at the annual industry gathering this year. What do we have planned? We’ll have open riding sessions available at various times throughout each day of the show. You’ll be able to grab an All-City bike from the pit and hit the track.
We’ll also have a couple of featured events – one each on the first and second days of the show. On Wednesday we’ve got the PDW/Paved Pro-Am Classic at The Circulus. Described as “Quite possibly the first annual celebrity micro-velodrome pursuit world championships, featuring stars and others.” More details about the event (and about those stars we mentioned) are still to come.
Yakima’s got the reigns for the Thursday night festivities, and I hear that it might involve some form of bike roulette… Stay tuned for more on this as it develops.
And while the events are nominally competitive, we’re shooting to focus more on the fun than on hard-core racing. Look for MC’s Chris DiStefano and Stevil Kinevil to keep the feats of strength in check.
This last Saturday, PDW hosted a little get together up at their place featuring Circulus. Hers’a little write up by BikePortland.org.
And finally, here’s a little sneak peak at Circulus in action:
PDW Circulus Promo 1 from James Wilson on Vimeo.
Where will you find Circulus at Interbike? It’ll be on the street level of the show (this year’s show is on two floors of the Sands Expo, remember?). Walk through the Urban Lounge near registration, through the new Pub beer garden and you’ll run into it.
But first, you’ve got to register for the show. You have registered already, right? www.interbike.com/register for those in the business of bikes.
Jul
1
WSJ Video: Bike Fashion Loses Spandex
Filed Under Industry News, Interbike, Video | 2 Comments
Just caught this early this morning while reading the news online while eating a bowl of cereal. It’s a video from the Wall Street Journal on casual cycling apparel that they posted last week on their site. It’s a concept we know well: you don’t need to dress like a pro in Lycra and spandex just to ride your bike. In fact, the assumption that they will have to get kitted up like Lance actually turns people off to riding. We’re definitely bullish on the category, and have been featuring it in our annual urban fashion show at Interbike, returning for the fourth year in 2011. There are some great new bike-specific yet casual looking styles and brands out there to appeal to both the recreational and commuting cyclist that needs to look just as appropriately dressed off the bike as when on it.
WSJ journalist, passionate cyclist and frequent Interbike attendee, Reed Albergotti, steps in to comment from a cyclist’s perspective with the two other more mainstream journalists.
Cycling apparel brands: submit your pieces to be considered for this year’s Interbike City Style Fashion Show, produced in partnership with Momentum Magazine, by downloading a submission form here.
Jun
22
Bicycle Retailer’s Philadelphia Dealer tour took place a couple of weeks ago. It was a great three days of riding from shop to shop in this strong bike region. I’ve been swamped with work and haven’t been able to finish editing all my photos and thoughts from the tour (I promise to finish it up soon…), but here’s a cool brief video that photographer Jake Orness put together of our little trip in the meantime.
Jun
15
Tiny Bike Shop Concerts
Filed Under Events, Industry News | Comments Off
Courtesy of the Elevation Outdoors Magazine newsletter, I learned about this cool concert series presented by Banjo Brothers Bag Co. The first stop was held at Calhoun Cycle in Minneapolis this past March. Looks like they streamed it live, so it’s a shame I didn’t know about it until now. Click the image below for some more photos of the event featuring singer Brianna Lane.
Mike Vanderscheuren, one of the founders of Banjo Brothers, came up with the concept.
From the Elevation Outdoors article:
Called the Tiny Bikeshop Concert Series, the concept was created with a goal to offer “free live music shows held in the world’s best bike shops.” Sponsored by Banjo Brothers International, a Minneapolis maker of messenger bags, packs and bike accessories, the series was built on the premise of local culture, bikes and music coming together as a natural fit.
About 100 enthusiasts showed up for the “seminars, swag and good times.”
May
26
Levi’s Entering the Bike Apparel Market?
Filed Under Industry News | Comments Off
Saw an interesting post yesterday from the NYC Velo bike shop blog about Levi’s and bike-specific apparel. Since they’re both located in Manhattan, Levi’s invited the shop down to their meatpacking district company store to preview their line of commuter-focused jeans and to provide feedback on a new cycling jacket design. I think this is another great sign that bike commuting is becoming more mainstream and is a viable market for mainstream businesses to profit from. This also fits right into the theme for the urban fashion show we’ve been holding at Interbike for the last three years: casual, functional, everyday cycling apparel that looks just as good off the bike.
The writer of the post had a great quote about how Levi’s fits in the bike market:
Levi’s garments are so stitched into the fabric of our culture and work-a-day life that extending the brand to casual cycling was a no-brainer for us.
Also, seems like I missed Prolly’s post about the line and his involvement with it last month. Check it out here if you missed it, too.
Heard from Joe over at Paved Magazine who got a pair and they’re capri style. Anyone else know if they’ll all be capri’s? Seems like the company is basing the cycling line off their 511 skinny jeans.
One funny observation given the simple, “work-a-day”, durable, apparel-for-the-masses appeal that Levi’s jeans have, the technology that they’re incorporating in their bike line sounds suspiciously typical for a high-tech bike industry product: “Levi’s is utilizing Swiss fabric brand Schoeller Technologies, and their Nano Sphere Technology + 3X dry textile treatment.” Maybe that’s just tech sweet talk intended for us tech-obsessed cycling enthusiasts. Better living through over engineering, right?
Welcome, Levi’s.
To see some great bike-specific jeans from two companies that specialize in the category, check out Osloh from New York and Swrve who are based in Los Angeles.